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CNG Feature Auction 118

Lot nuber 938

The Republicans. C. Cassius Longinus. Spring 42 BC. AV Aureus (19.5mm, 7.84 g, 12h). Military mint (Smyrna?); M. Aquinus, legate.


CNG Feature Auction 118
Lot: 938.
 Estimated: $ 30 000

Roman Republican, Coin-in-Hand Video, Gold

Sold For $ 42 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Go to Live

The Republicans. C. Cassius Longinus. Spring 42 BC. AV Aureus (19.5mm, 7.84 g, 12h). Military mint (Smyrna?); M. Aquinus, legate. Diademed head of Libertas right; M • AQVINVS • LEG • LIBER (TA)S around / Tripod surmounted by the cortina and two laurel-branches; fillet on each side; C • CASSI upward to left, IMP • upward to right. Crawford 499/1; CRI 218; Bahrfeldt 57; Calicó 64 (same obv. die as illustration); Sydenham 1303; BMCRR East 72; Biaggi 42 (same obv. die); RBW 1760 (same dies). Usual light die rust on obverse. NGC photo certificate 6156409-001, graded MS, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 3/5. Very rare; only 10 examples were known to Crawford, 7 of which are in museums.

Ex Triton X (8 January 2007), lot 545.

C. Cassius Longinus was one of the principal conspirators against Julius Caesar. Following the assassination, he moved to the east, where he sought to amass an army. His prior reputation of military success against the Parthians while governing the province of Syria proved invaluable, and by 43 BC his army boasted nearly twelve legions. He was able to stave off Antony's general Dolabella, secured his base in Syria, and begin preparations for an invasion of Egypt. At the same time, Antony, Octavian, and Lepidus formed the triumvirate, and this posed too great a threat to ignore. Cassius halted his impending invasion of Egypt and moved west to meet up with Brutus’s forces at Smyrna. The two regicides agreed to take joint action against the triumvirs, and began by attacking their allies in Asia. The following year, having successfully secured their rear in Asia, the pair moved into Thrace, and chose a position outside Philippi to meet the approaching army of Antony and Octavian. Brutus moved against Octavian with great success, capturing the young Caesarian's camp, but Cassius's army was routed by Antony. Unaware of his partner's success, Cassius thought the entire cause was lost, and had his freedman Pindarus slay him.

This issue was likely struck by Cassius just prior to his meeting with Brutus in Smyrna. The obverse type of Libertas was a prominent theme in many of the tyrannicides' coinage. The tripod on the reverse is a reference to Apollo in his role as the god of prophesy. His support would have been important to ensure the victory of the liberators over the Caesarians. The type may also be a personal reference to Cassius's membership in the college of the quindecimviri sacris faciundis, one of whose responsibilities was the custody of the Sibylline Books, which would also have a prophetic connotation for the future plans of Brutus and Cassius regarding the Roman state. Another interesting aspect of this issue is that it is the first of Cassius's coinage to designate him as imperator. His previous issues named him as proconsul, and this change may reflect his sizeable military command, as well as an intent to claim overall command of both the tyrannicides' forces.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 118 lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 13-14 September 2021. CNG Feature Auction 118 – Session Three – Roman Provincial Coinage Part 2 through Roman Imperial Coinage Part 1 will be held Tuesday morning, 14 September 2021 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 22.50% for all others.

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